Kerala: Move to appoint MBBS doctors as faculty in medical colleges draws flak

Kerala: The state’s government decision to appoint MBBS doctors as faculty in medical colleges has not gone down well with the various medicos associations primarily the the Kerala Government Post Graduate Medical Teachers Association (KGPGMTA) and Kerala Medical Post Graduates Association (KMPGA).

The decision has met with a strong opposing force from the association stating that it will only lead to bringing down the standards in medical education.

As a fact evident to their claim, the association have alleged that such a decision is not even in sync with the MCI standards as it (MCI) only recognises PG as a qualification for the teaching faculty. Such appointments of MBBS doctors will only put many PG doctors in dire straits.

However, the government states that there are not enough PG candidates and those who have been appointed are not keen to take up the responsibility.

The medicos’ associations have still refuted the claims stating that there are enough doctors to fill the posts.

As reported by the Express, while the Kerala Government Post Graduate Medical Teachers Association (KGPGMTA) and Kerala Medical Post Graduates Association (KMPGA) have come out against the move, stating that it would have far reaching consequences, the  Kerala Government Medical College Teachers Association (KGMCTA) was of the opinion that MBBS doctors could be appointed taking into account the interest of society.

Expressing displeasure over the move, KGPGMTA state president Dr Ajith Prasad J S said: “It’s an unnecessary claim that there are not enough PG doctors for the various posts. The government says that there is lack of PG doctors and specialists for the posts to be filled through community reservation. The PSC itself had pointed out that shortage comes only with regard to two communities and it had intimated the government to not get worried about it. However, the government seems to be so adamant in appointing MBBS doctors in the entry level.” However, KGMCTA president Dr C P Vijayan was of the opinion that there was nothing wrong in appointing MBBS doctors as faculty in medical colleges. “Wherever there is a shortage of  PG doctors, the doctors with lesser qualification can be appointed taking into account wider societal interest,” he said.